Oakley School
Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4NE
Age range
4 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Pupils
224
Headteacher
Mrs Samantha Perryman
Type
Specialist
Ofsted
Good
Local authority
Kent
Sixth form
Yes
About Oakley School
Oakley School is a mixed special school based in Tunbridge Wells for children aged 4 to 19. It has roughly 224 pupils on roll. It is a maintained school within the Kent local authority area. The school has its own sixth form for post-16 study. The headteacher is Mrs Samantha Perryman.
Inspection at a glance
Ofsted rated Oakley School Good at its inspection on 23 October 2024. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.
How the school is performing
Attendance works out at roughly 91.3% (absence 8.7%) (2024/25). Around 46.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.
Getting a place at Oakley School
Oakley School is a special school, so places are arranged through the education, health and care plan process rather than the normal application round. Kent names the school in a child's EHCP after consulting it. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.
SEND at a glance
Oakley School is a specialist SEND setting, so every pupil on roll has identified additional needs. Named areas of need it supports include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Specific learning difficulties, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Hearing impairment, Visual impairment. Recorded provision: Specialist school: SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.
Oakley School contact details and location
Oakley School is at Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4NE. The school office can be reached on 01892 823096. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.
Ofsted inspection
Overall effectiveness
Ofsted's most recent visit confirmed the overall rating. It did not re-grade the individual areas.
Oakley School admissions and catchment area
No entrance test - you apply on the common application form
Oakley School does not run its own entrance test. Places are allocated by Kent County Council using published oversubscription criteria. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria.
Official links
Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Kent County Council. KCC school admissions →
How to apply
1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Kent County Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? Apply directly through Kent County Council's in-year admissions team, or in some cases direct to the school.
Didn't get a place? You can appeal
If Oakley School is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.
How to appeal a school offerOakley School results and attendance
KS2 results
A-Level results
Not published
Attendance
Free school meals
SEND support at Oakley School
SEND setting
Specialist school
SEND provision
Specialist school: SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Specialisms
- Autism
- Speech
- language and communication
- Specific learning difficulties
- Moderate learning difficulties
- Severe learning difficulties
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties
- Hearing impairment
- Visual impairment
For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.
Wraparound care and nursery at Oakley School
Nursery
No
Breakfast club
Please check with the school
After-school club
Please check with the school
Oakley School term dates: Kent standard term dates for 2026/27
These are Kent County Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.
Autumn 1 · 2026
1 Sep-23 Oct
Autumn 2 · 2026
2 Nov-18 Dec
Spring 1 · 2027
4 Jan-12 Feb
Spring 2 · 2027
22 Feb-25 Mar
Summer 1 · 2027
12 Apr-28 May
Summer 2 · 2027
7 Jun-21 Jul
Oakley School: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a place at Oakley School?
Places at Oakley School are arranged through the education, health and care plan (EHCP) process. Ask your SEN casework team at Kent to consult the school as part of your child's plan.
What is Oakley School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Oakley School Good at its inspection on 23 October 2024. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.
What SEND support does Oakley School offer?
Oakley School is recorded as a specialist school. Named areas of need include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Specific learning difficulties, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Hearing impairment, Visual impairment. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.
What are Oakley School's term dates and INSET days?
Oakley School follows the standard Kent pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Where is Oakley School and how do I contact the school?
Oakley School is at Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4NE. The office number is 01892 823096. A map and directions are on this page.
How big is Oakley School and what ages does it take?
Oakley School has around 224 pupils on roll and covers ages 4 to 19. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.
About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.
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